Last day 30 June for ASAs - suggestions for post 01 July

[747800intercon]

Sad day for some with the end of mASAs - last day to book today. Anyone doing any last minute ones?

Something you all may consider post 01 July is to use the points+pay option for cheap fares. There are some good deals outside of Australia for premium fares ex-UK/Europe and USA to Australia - some of these work out at very similar rates to ASA if you use your points to pay for the fare.

 

[ketsuzei]

Do you have any concrete examples? When looking in the past, I haven't seen any advantage in using any points rather than just paying it all in cash...

 

[Steelo]

Something you all may consider post 01 July is to use the points+pay option for cheap fares. There are some good deals outside of Australia for premium fares ex-UK/Europe and USA to Australia - some of these work out at very similar rates to ASA if you use your points to pay for the fare.

I look forward to hearing about and sharing options that are available post July 1.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Sad day for some with the end of mASAs - last day to book today. Anyone doing any last minute ones?

Something you all may consider post 01 July is to use the points+pay option for cheap fares. There are some good deals outside of Australia for premium fares ex-UK/Europe and USA to Australia - some of these work out at very similar rates to ASA if you use your points to pay for the fare.

Really? I note that you are specifically talking about flights into Aus, but traditionally P+Pay has been terrible value.

 

[opusman]

You're usually better off buying toasters on the FF store, selling them on ebay and using the money to pay for flights, then you are using PPP

 

[747800intercon]

Out of Australia yes they are terrible value but there are some Business fares Europe-Australia-Europe for around EUR 2000.00 return...obviously it won't ever be as cheap as ASAs but it's something to consider... Last month there was special for fares from Benelux region in Business to Australia for EUR 1756.00 return plus taxes. That was a great deal.

 

[ketsuzei]

Are you saying that the amount of cash you can save by using points is greater for cheaper fares? The "value" of a point has appeared constant to me...

 

[747800intercon]

Just providing some suggestions for alternatives to ASA post 01 July...not telling anyone they are the same thing. But if you plan correctly and start your bookings outside of Australia there are good deals to be had in premium cabins.

 

[ketsuzei]

So to clarify: you've found options where you believe points+pay is a better option than just paying cash?

 

[craven morehead]

So to clarify: you've found options where you believe points+pay is a better option than just paying cash?

Following with interest !!

 

[747800intercon]

So to clarify: you've found options where you believe points+pay is a better option than just paying cash?

The option I got was about 492K points for a return Business AMS-LON-DXB-MEL-SIN-DXB-LON-AMS - the value of the ticket was approx AUD 3900.00 return including taxes. Basically the value is approx AU$1=123 points. So obviously the fare needs to be cheap to start off with otherwise as people have suggested p+p doesn't represent good value.

 

[opusman]

0.81 cents per point is pretty bad value imo.

 

[Isochronous]

Looking forward to evidence of these examples emerging!

 

[hossein_au]

Out of Australia yes they are terrible value but there are some Business fares Europe-Australia-Europe for around EUR 2000.00 return...obviously it won't ever be as cheap as ASAs but it's something to consider... Last month there was special for fares from Benelux region in Business to Australia for EUR 1756.00 return plus taxes. That was a great deal.

"EUR 1756.00 return plus taxes"??? We have "plus taxes" and we have "plus taxes"... And then we have "plus Qantas taxes"... Huge difference mate, HUGE!

 

[JessicaTam]

Out of Australia yes they are terrible value but there are some Business fares Europe-Australia-Europe for around EUR 2000.00 return...obviously it won't ever be as cheap as ASAs but it's something to consider... Last month there was special for fares from Benelux region in Business to Australia for EUR 1756.00 return plus taxes. That was a great deal.

How many points? or was that a cash only fare?

 

[penegal]

There will be life beyond MASAs (although some members of this forum may find it hard to believe). For me personally MASAs were always a strange false economy and represented a small fraction of my flying (and status credits).


For the past few years I have valued QF points less than points in some other programs. This position doesn't change. While living in Australia QF pesos are very easy to earn. As such they have a place in my mixed portfolio of frequent flyer programs.

Remember before ~5? years ago we all flew on classic awards as they was no ASA...

 

[penegal]

I generally don't rate points + pay, but will keep an eye on it. In the mean time I have other ways to use QF pesos...

 

[Newk]

a post to subscribe

 

[AusTraveller]

a post to subscribe

Me too. I have been trying to do some research of my own. Nothing worth noting yet. Will post anything noteworthy I find